Combined blacking-brush and shoe-cleaner



No. 623,582. Patented Apr. 25, I899. H. C. V'OLLMAR.

GOMBINEDBLACKING BRUSH AND-SHOE CLEANER.

(Application filed Sept. 2, 1897.)

(Model.)

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UNirn STATES PATENT Enron;

HENRY C. VOLLMAR, OF PORT HURON, MICHIGAN.

COMBINED BLACKlNG-BRUSH AND SHOE-CLEANER.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 623,582, dated April 25, 1899.

Application filed September 2, 1897. Serial No. 650,385. (Model) To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY C. VOLLMAR, of Port Huron, in the county of St. Clair and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Combined Blacking-Brush and Shoe-Cleaner; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention is an improvement in shoecleaning attachments for blacking-brushes; and the object of the same is to provide certain inexpensive devices which can be readily and conveniently applied to the back of the brush adjoining the handle thereof and will be at all times ready for use.

The invention contemplates a construction and arrangement of parts to produce a device of this character that can be manufactured and sold separately at small cost and is adapted to be attached to the brush without requiring any alteration of the latter, the scraperblade having a bearing in a keeperplate, through which a flat spring is passed to firmly hold the blade retracted, While the outer bent end or hoe portion of the blade is so disposed at an angle with respect to the shank thereof as to lie flush against the edge of the brush and not interfere in the ordinary use to which said brush may be put.

The following specification enters into a detail description of the construction and operation of my invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to numerals of reference thereon, which designate the different parts, and what I consider to be new in the construction and combination is more specifically set forth in the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawings, which form part hereof, Figure 1 is a perspective View showing the application of my attachments, the scraper-blade being retracted. Fig. 2 is a similar view with the scraper-blade projected ready for use.

My improved attachments, hereinafter described, are adapted to be applied to an ordinary blacking-brush of that construction presenting a flat back 1, to the central portion of which is secured the handle 5, and at the forward end of said handle a dauber 6.

The attachments which comprise my invention consist of but three partst0 wit, a keeper-plate 3, sliding scraper-blade 2, and holding-spring 4. The keeper-plate is provided with longitudinal side flanges and a central raised portion, the latter having two transverse'slots located centrally and slightly separated to receive the plate;spring 4, the ends of which are passed through the slots into the keeper-plate. The scraper-blade is made up of a narrow strip of steel of a width to fit snugly within the keeper-plate, in which it is adapted to slide, with the ends of the plate-spring 4 bearing thereon to act against the sliding movement. The inner end of this scraper-blade is turned into a knob or handle,

while the outer end is bent at an angle to form a hoe 7 the bend by which the hoe is formed being at an obtuse angle, so that said hoe will lie flush against the edge of the backof the blacking-brush when the device is applied and the scraper-blade retracted.

In applying the device to the back of a blackiug-brush the scraper-blade is laid fiat upon said back and the keeper-plate, with the plate spring inserted, is placed upon said blade and forced into place by nails driven through perforations therefor in the side flanges. This brings the ends of the platespring to bear firmly against the scraper blade, so as to retard the sliding movement of the latter and hold it in an adjusted position, either projected or retracted. Now when it is desired to use the scraper-blade in removing dirt from' shoes it is projected, as shown in Fig. 2, and the outer bent end or hoe portion used as a scraper, the plate-spring holding the blade extended, and is assisted by the said blade binding against the outer end of the keeper-plate, it being understood that the blade is made of spring-steel. It will also be noted that the scraper-blade passing under the dauber provides an additional hearing against the outer edgeof said dauber.

Having thus described my invention, I do not desire to be understood as claiming, broadly, the application of a scraper-blade to a blacking-brush, as it has been proposed to connect a scraper-blade slidably to a brush so that it may be extended for use and retracted when the brush is to be used for its ordinary purpose. My invention therefore contemplates an improvement in such devices scraper-blade being turned to form a handle while the outer end is bent to form a hoe portion,.the bend by which the latter is formed being at an obtuse angle; said attachment being applied upon the back of the blackingbrush, as herein shown and described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRY C. V OLLMAR.

Witnesses:

F. R. SoHELL, T. MARSHALL. 

